Laura thought that in all of this she had become the master of the understatement.
‘Anyway, I’d met Mr Hodder at one of the charity dinners, so I went to him with my theory. It must have been clear to him that I hadn’t thought it through at all, and my imagination was working overtime. I realised I was making a fool of myself. He was one of the few people who knew I’d been ill before, and he obviously saw this as some sort of a relapse. So he called Hugo. I wasn’t able to get the idea out of my head at all, so they diagnosed me as delusional, and he provided some supporting evidence. That’s it, really.’
Laura as usual was avoiding Tom’s eyes, but she risked a glance. She saw concern, but she saw something else. She saw a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, and she realised that she hadn’t been convincing enough.
‘Look, Tom, I know it sounds completely ridiculous now. I made an idiot of myself. Mr Hodder and his family apparently had one of the Allium girls themselves at one time. I gather it didn’t work out too well, but he had nothing but praise for Hugo. I’m very embarrassed about it, so can we please forget it?’
‘Did you know that Hugo asked Jessica to shred all the documents relating to the missing girls?’
Laura was startled. She hadn’t know this - but somehow it all made perfect sense. Hugo was a bastard, but he was a clever bastard. Tom had clearly not missed her expression.
‘You didn’t know, did you? He also arranged to pay Jessica eight thousand pounds a month as ‘a little bonus’ for doing something for him that she’s not prepared to divulge. He paid her in cash, so that explains where a big chunk of the twenty thousand a month went. And then you employed a private detective to follow Hugo. Hugo found out, and no doubt scared you off. Then you went to the Chief Constable. How am I doing so far?’
Too well, thought Laura. Far too well. But she said nothing and just looked levelly at him, hopefully hiding her surprise that most of the ten thousand she didn’t know about was now accounted for.
‘Well here’s the good news. I’ve just had a call from one of my colleagues who is at the Allium offices. The delightful, but apparently rather lazy Rosie has just admitted that the girls’ details seemed too big a pile to shred, so she hid the boxes. We’ve got people going through them - starting with the past five years.’
Tom’s face was a picture. He thought this was going to provide all the answers, she could see that. She almost felt sorry for him, but he hadn’t finished.
‘Laura, I need you to tell me. Do you still think it was a delusion? You don’t do you? You never did. But what I don’t understand is, if you thought something was happening to the girls, why didn’t you say something to me when you heard that Danika was missing?’
She didn’t know how many more lies she could tell this man. But he had a daughter of his own. Perhaps he would understand.
‘I couldn’t see the point in telling you - I thought it would do more harm than good. Hugo’s
dead
, so it would be too late for any girls that have already disappeared, and he can’t do it any more, can he? It was so much better if you didn’t investigate it. I had to protect Alexa. I kept quiet for her sake. She had to be my number one priority. And they’re safe now - the girls. They
must
be.’
She suddenly felt racked with guilt. She had known so much, but not enough. She had been sure that the police would act all those months ago, but she had ended up back in a mental institution. She could have told them everything she suspected when she heard Danika was missing, but she assumed it was either too late, or that the girl would be safe now that Hugo was dead. She chose to keep quiet to protect Alexa. Tom was too smart to let it lie.
‘Hang on, Laura. You said that in your delusions you imagined that something “might be” happening to the girls, and Hugo “could be” involved. But it sounds as if you knew that something was happening. When Danika turned up, she told us the reason she’d been away. Another of her friends has gone missing very recently. Mirela Tinescy. And she left a note - a note that nobody believed. She’s still missing, Laura. If Hugo took her, what do you think he’s done with her?’
‘You’re assuming that I was right, aren’t you - that it wasn’t just a delusion? You believe that I wasn’t mad, don’t you?’
Tom was looking at her with such empathy that Laura wanted to cry. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and she knew that he was picturing her life with Hugo and her years in the care home. He stood up and came to sit next to her on the sofa, turning his body to face her. He reached out and clasped her cold hands between his. His voice was infinitely gentle as he spoke.
‘Laura, James Sinclair asked Becky to retrieve Imogen’s laptop from her bedroom. Lying next to it on the bed was a letter. From you, Laura.’
He gently massaged some warmth back into her hands as he spoke, his compassionate eyes never leaving her face.
‘And I know what it says.’
DECEMBER 2006
Dear Imogen
Today’s been a peculiar day all round. The weather has been stormy one minute with the rain pelting down, and then there have been flashes of sunshine in between. But it wasn’t nice enough to get out into the garden and finish tidying up for winter. I know we’ve got gardeners, but if I don’t do something I really
will
go mad!
So all I did all day was sit gazing out of the window, wishing I’d gone back to Italy. At least there I can keep the demons at bay. Here, they confront me at every turn. Then I thought of you, my dear long lost friend.
I’ve been back at Ashbury Park for a year now, but I’ve still got to be so very careful. I can’t step out of line. I have to appear cowed and under Hugo’s complete control. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only. A reason I haven’t told you about. I don’t think I could bear to see it written down, if you want the honest truth.
I really should have gone to Italy. I only stayed this week because I thought Hugo wanted me to help prepare for Christmas, and in particular to buy Alexa’s presents. In the event, he seems irritated that I’m here.
We barely see each other now - which is fine by me. Hugo goes out regularly, and stays away often. Sometimes he seems positively exhilarated about the prospect of the night ahead, so I can only assume he’s got a mistress. Poor woman.
Having asked me to be here to organise the shopping, he phoned earlier today to say he was going to be gone for a day or two. And he didn’t want to be contacted. He sounds really angry about something, but at least I don’t have to give yet another Oscar-winning performance this evening.
So I settled down by the fire with a glass of wine and a good book. Then the intercom at the gate rang. I was startled for a moment. Nobody ever comes here uninvited, and very few invitations are issued. I did wonder for a moment if it might be you!
When I answered, it was a voice I didn’t recognise.
‘Hello. I would like to see Sir Hugo Fletcher please. My name is Danika Bojin.’
‘I’m sorry, but my husband isn’t here. And I’m afraid he doesn’t like doing business from the house. Perhaps you could go to the office?’
‘I already
go
to the office two days ago, and nobody
helps
me. You are his wife? Please. Can
you
help me?’
I had no idea what this was about, but it was cold, wet and dark outside, and the girl sounded very distressed. She looked extremely young in the video monitor, and I felt sorry for her, so I invited her in.
It turned out that she’d come to talk to Hugo about a friend of hers who’s missing. She’s disappeared, and Danika doesn’t believe she would have gone without saying anything, so she suspects something has happened to her. She was clearly very worried.
I was impressed by her loyalty - coming all this way just to try to talk to Hugo. And she must have walked at least the last three miles in the pouring rain. Her English is amazing. I wasn’t surprised to learn that she’d been an excellent student. How tragic that she’s been dragged into a life of prostitution. My own life is sad, but it’s nothing compared to this girl’s story. She was so very anxious.
‘I know I’m told I must not to come to here, and I’m so sorry, but I don’t know what I must do. Alina would not go away and not tell to us. She is happy where she live. Something has happened to her. I know this.’
‘Did you have any idea at all that she was thinking of leaving?’
Danika thought for a few moments. She looked very worried.
‘I don’t know. The last times we see her, she seem to be too happy. Big smile and shiny eyes. It was like that. Mirela see it too - so we ask her about it, and she say she has a secret, but she cannot tell to us. I think perhaps she has fallen in love with husband of family, so I asked it. She laughed and said I mistook her. The family is wonderful, and she never want to make them to be angry with her. She want to stay with them until she find a man to look after her in a proper way, you understand? Perhaps she find him - but I do not think she would leave without explaining it to the family.’
I really wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how. All I could think of doing was giving her something to eat and drink, and then organising a car to take her home. But I did promise to do the best I could to find out what might have happened to her friend. I was so embarrassed by my lack of knowledge about the Allium Foundation.
‘Did you ever meet my husband, Sir Hugo?’
‘Oh yes. We all meet him. He come to talk with us when we go to Allium. We line up and he choose some to talk to.
‘Did he talk to you?’
‘No. I am unhappy that he did not. But he talk for a long time to Alina, and he also talk to Mirela a bit. But not me. Perhaps I am too ugly.’
‘Of course you’re not ugly, Danika. Do you have a photo of either of your friends?’
‘No. But pictures are taken. They should be at Allium offices.’
Since Danika went, I’ve been sitting and thinking for a long time about what I can do. And I’ve decided. Here is an opportunity to help somebody. To do something useful. If Jessica can’t be bothered to help Danika, then I will. I won’t tell Hugo, because he’ll only find some reason to stop me. But I don’t really see why he should mind. After all, I’m sure he doesn’t want these girls to just disappear.
I’m going to leave this letter open, then I can tell you what happens with my investigation!
*
It’s now six days since Danika came, and I decided that as Hugo is away yet again I’d go to the Allium offices and see what I can find out about Danika’s friend, Alina. I can’t go to the office when Hugo’s there, so this is the first chance I’ve had.
When I arrived at Egerton Crescent, I went straight up to the apartment and I bumped into Rosie. She often leaves papers on Hugo’s desk there. He studies them in the evening, with the lamps lit and a single malt on the desk next to him. I used to think it was bliss just to sit and watch him. That was a long time ago.
I asked Rosie to have a cup of coffee with me. She’s a nice girl, even if she is a bit obsessed with shopping. I explained why I was there, and she told me that Danika and Mirela had been to the office just over a week ago, which I knew of course. She told me that several girls go missing every year, but they’re not investigated if they leave a note. Hugo says there’s no point going to the trouble as they’ve obviously left out of choice. Danika’s friend left a note - so that was it.
I asked Rosie if she knew the date Alina disappeared. She could remember that Hugo was out that day, but that was all. As he’s out several times a week, that wasn’t very helpful. Then an idea came to her, and she pulled the diary towards her. She pointed to a date.
‘This is it. I remember because we’d just heard she was missing when the BBC called to ask if Sir Hugo would be interviewed for Panorama - a special on people trafficking - and I couldn’t get in touch with him to ask.’
I asked
why
she couldn’t contact him for something so important, and she pointed to some letters in his diary - LMF. Rosie explained that when the diary says LMF she can’t call him, and no other appointments can be made for these days - under any circumstances. She assumed I would know what it meant, but I haven’t a clue. The L could stand for Laura, I suppose - but I don’t have a middle name, and anyway he’d be highly unlikely to see anything to do with me as a red-letter day.
Whilst we were chatting, Jessica called up the stairs. She didn’t know I was there, and she certainly wouldn’t have been happy that I was asking all these questions.
‘Another girl’s gone AWOL, Rosie. She’s left a note, but I need to go and see the family. You’ll need to come down and man the phones. God knows what you’re doing up there, anyway!’
With that, the front door slammed. Rosie gave me an apologetic look, and went downstairs. I decided to have a look at his diary for myself. I know he’s in ‘non contact mode’ today, and sure enough, it says LMF again in his diary. Just as it did on that date three months ago when Alina went missing.
I don’t know if it’s me - but that seems like a hell of a coincidence. He’s out of touch when Alina goes missing, and today when he’s incommunicado another girl goes missing. If I hadn’t known so much about Hugo - if he’d been an
ordinary
man - I would never have thought anything of it. But he’s not.
I decided to look back through his diaries. It was strange. Every few months there was an LMF in ink, underlined. There was even one in for three months ahead. But looking backwards there were other entries in pencil that said LMF. So I took the current diary downstairs and asked Rosie about these. She said they appeared quite randomly, usually only a day or two in advance, and when he wrote them in pencil he was happy to move them for other appointments. Only the ones in ink were fixed and not to be changed under any circumstances. But in either case, once the day arrived, he could not be contacted.
Then bloody Jessica came back, because she’d forgotten some papers or something. She couldn’t exactly ask me what I was doing there, but her face said it all. I told her I would like to see the files on all the girls that have gone missing. She refused. I said Hugo had asked me to do it, but she clearly didn’t believe me.